U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, M.D. (R-TN) today praised the pending passage of the Support Our Scouts Act of 2005, which is included in the Department of Defense Authorization bill and the Defense Appropriations bill.

Sen. Frist authored the legislation, which was co-sponsored by over 50 other senators, "to ensure that the Boy Scouts of America receives equal access to public facilities, programs, and forums and that the Defense Department will continue its support of Scouts and their Jamborees."

The passage of this legislation is a victory for the Boy Scouts of America and the many other organizations that promote the development of our nations young people, said Frist. This legislation acknowledges the critical role that the Boy Scouts of America plays in the development of our nations youth and the importance of that role to the future of our country."

Frist added, The Boy Scouts of America is a unique American organization that teaches our youth the importance of honesty, integrity and character. This legislation ensures that the Scouts are treated fairly by guaranteeing them equal access to public facilities, programs, and forums. It also enables the Scouts to continue their public service without the distraction of frivolous and spiteful lawsuits. Im pleased that this integral Scouting tradition will be protected as they continue their noble efforts to mold the hearts and minds of the next generation of Americas leaders."

For nearly a century the Boy Scouts have helped mold future generations of young Americans by preparing them to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes, said Roy Williams, Chief Scout Executive of the Boy Scouts of America. Too often in recent years the Boy Scouts has faced legal assaults by those who would deny it the same relationship with government as other youth and community organizations. This legislation will help put an end to these senseless attacks and allow the Boy Scouts to continue its vital mission of character development and values-based leadership training. We appreciate Sen. Frists authorship of this legislation and encourage swift passage of the Support Our Scouts Act of 2005.

Exclusion from government forums and facilities is the greatest legal challenge facing the Boy Scouts today, the Frist office said. In recent years, the Boy Scouts organization "has been under a legal assault by those who would deny it the same relationship with government as other youth and community organizations," it was stated.

The Support Our Scouts Act of 2005 guarantees the Boy Scouts right to equal access. The legislation removes any doubt that federal, state, and local agencies may welcome Scouts to hold meetings and go camping on public property by making clear that the Congress considers the Scouts a youth organization, Sen. Frist said.

The act also clarifies that federal agencies cannot provide less support to the Scouts than the agency has in the past, except under certain special circumstances, it was stated.

High praise for Senator Frist. High scorn for the ACLU who side with lawsuits against the Boy Scouts of America but support NAMBLA. The ACLU says they know what is best for our young people, give me a break!

Same thing with tons of leftist lawsuits. They collect attorney fees via government funding or under a private attorney general theory with the collaboration of leftist judges. The dirty little secret is that much of pro bono work isn't really pro bono.

Umm no the ACLU is not. You are confusing it with the Government Program that makes Lawyers available to Welfare Recipients and other poor people. Cannot remember the name of it right now. Anyone help us out?

The ACLU (AKA America's Communist Lawyers Union) is funded by private money. See below from their website. The ACLU was founded by Roger Baldwin, Crystal Eastman, Albert DeSilver and others in 1920. We are nonprofit and nonpartisan and have grown from a roomful of civil liberties activists to an organization of more than 400,000 members and supporters. We handle nearly 6,000 court cases annually from our offices in almost every state.

The ACLU has maintained the position that civil liberties must be respected, even in times of national emergency. The ACLU is supported by annual dues and contributions from its members, plus grants from private foundations and individuals. We do not receive any government funding. Learn more about joining the ACLU.

12
posted on 12/26/2005 11:46:36 AM PST
by MNJohnnie
(We do not create terrorism by fighting the terrorists. We invite terrorism by ignoring them.--GWBush)

"You are confusing that Goverment Legal Assistance organization and the ACLU. ACLU gets no Tax money"

Sorry but you are wrong. Our tax money is given to the ACLU every time they file what they call a suit for civil rights. The law that established the right to sue gave the judges the ability to take local tax money and give it to the lawyers bringing the suit. Does not matter if they win or lose. When the ACLU informs, by letter, a state, a city, or county or school district they they will sue they always include a bill for their services.

Sorry not true. They get our tax money every time they file a suit. The law gives the judge the ability to award tax money to them and most of the time it does not matter if they win or lose they get out tax money and that is what keeps them living in high cotton.

No, you are wrong. Please post your supporting link for this claim. I gave you the info right from the ACLU website. What is YOUR proof? You are confusing the Government Legal Service Agency or group or commission or what ever with the ACLU. Different groups.

Unless you are claiming that because the cost of the Damages awarded to a Plaintiff are used to cover the ACLU costs for representing them as "Taxpayer money"? Sorry those costs are paid no matter WHO represents the winner. Claiming that as "Taxpayer money" going to the ACLU is incredibly, incredibility intellectually dishonest. EVEN if the Congress passed a law banning such awards to the ACLU it would be an Unconstitutional imposition of Congressional Authority on the Judiciary. Sorry but you are just wrong all the way around on this.

20
posted on 12/26/2005 12:07:18 PM PST
by MNJohnnie
(We do not create terrorism by fighting the terrorists. We invite terrorism by ignoring them.--GWBush)

Again I say: DO NOT BELIEVE anything you read on the ACLU web site their founder was an anti-American Communist who founded the ACLU to covertly destroy the United States, and they are doing a good job of it.

The LAW IS: "USC section 1988 fees (from tax money) are awarded to the ACLU in Establishment Clause cases," which means any suit the ACLU brings period.

Title 42, Chapter 21, Subchapter I, Section 1988 is the mothers milk of the United States Code for the ACLU. It authorizes the payment of attorneys fees in cases involving civil rights. Sounds harmless enough, right? Sorry, bucko, it turns out that you are paying the ACLUs invoice every time they launch another lawsuit. Are you happy to pay the ACLU $700,000 to kick the Boy Scouts out of a San Diego park, $500,000 to get those awful ten commandments out of Judge Roy Moores courthouse, and millions to prosecute every creche and cross and star of David on public property

Any Freeper Legal Eagles around? Can you explain the legal point on this thread for me? Need someone a lot more knowledgeable on the Judiciary and how the Courts work since it seems fairly obvious my point is being misunderstood or ignored. Our side sounds nuts when it goes on these Tin Foil Hat rants about the ACLU. The ACLU needs to be destroyed but this sort of "Taxpayer funding for the ACLU" nonsense discredits the legitimate arguments against the ACLU made by the Right

26
posted on 12/26/2005 12:18:45 PM PST
by MNJohnnie
(We do not create terrorism by fighting the terrorists. We invite terrorism by ignoring them.--GWBush)

The only complaint I would have is that it's too specific. If the senator wants to pass a law saying that the Boy Scouts, as a private organization, have the right to exclude whom they want from membership and still be able to receive certain kinds of government assistance without having to comply with anti-discriminiation laws, then they should also extend that same protection to other private organizations. Otherwise I think it'll be open to legal challenge.

(b) Attorneys fees In any action or proceeding to enforce a provision of sections 1981, 1981a, 1982, 1983, 1985, and 1986 of this title, title IX of Public Law 92318 [20 U.S.C. 1681 et seq.], the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 [42 U.S.C. 2000bb et seq.], the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000 [42 U.S.C. 2000cc et seq.], title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 [42 U.S.C. 2000d et seq.], or section 13981 of this title, the court, in its discretion, may allow the prevailing party, other than the United States, a reasonable attorneys fee as part of the costs, except that in any action brought against a judicial officer for an act or omission taken in such officers judicial capacity such officer shall not be held liable for any costs, including attorneys fees, unless such action was clearly in excess of such officers jurisdiction.

(c) Expert fees In awarding an attorneys fee under subsection (b) of this section in any action or proceeding to enforce a provision of section 1981 or 1981a of this title, the court, in its discretion, may include expert fees as part of the attorneys fee.

I surely hope this bill will be passed without any decenting objections. The Boy Scouts of America often give much back to communities that some may not realize. For those that may not know. Eagle Scout projects often can take the form of civil projects. For instance improvements in local parks, playgrounds, work projects on stream improvement, and countless other really worth while things. All are winners in supporting our Scouts of both genders. And lets face it. Many a young boy is influenced in a good way, given the chances to do things he otherwise would only dream of doing. Hiking, camping, outdoor cooking, summer camps, advancing in rank, personal achievments, learning many skills he would otherwise not perhaps ever learn..... that take him off the street and make a good citizen of him for the future. And who can discount that we need more of .........On my honor I will do my best to obey the scout law, to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight is not needed in our leaders of the future. Hope I have it in the correct order been a few years. WWW to them that belong. I was a member of Unami Lodge #1 on the mighty Delaware. Yea back in the 60's. But those principals tend to stay with us scouts.

34
posted on 12/26/2005 2:53:35 PM PST
by Marine_Uncle
(Honor must be earned)

But then again, in 1969, while a congressman, George H.W. "rubbers" Bush along with another pub and 2 democrats wrote the Title X funding law which helps support planned parenthood. So, nothing fazes me anymore.

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